Striking teachers in the West Contra Costa Unified School District said overnight Wednesday they reached a tentative deal to return to the classroom. According to the teachers union, the two sides reached an agreement early Wednesday morning after a marathon bargaining session. Wednesday will be an optional classroom prep day, and teachers and students will return to a full schedule Thursday, the union said. The teachers and the district tentatively agreed on a new two-year contract that calls for an 8% wage increase over two years, 100% fully paid health care by 2027 and retention bonuses after three years for those who are graduates of WCCUSD, according to the union. The president of the teachers union released the following statement early Wednesday: “This fight was not just about our contract; it was a battle for the future of public education. At a time when there are ongoing attacks on our profession and our communities, we stood strong because we refuse to let our students suffer in under-resourced classrooms.” Over the weekend, the district had offered a 7% wage hike over two years, with 100% health care coverage by 2028. The district said that offer would add significant additional costs that can only be afforded with equally significant reductions in the near future. More than 1,400 teachers at 54 schools West Contra Costa Unified went on strike Thursday after an impasse in 10 months of contract negotiations. Campuses remained open and meals were served during the strike, but most of the more than 24,000 students remained at home. The district released a statement Wednesday morning: “Early this morning, the District and UTR teams reached a tentative agreement framed around the Board’s counterproposal which includes salary and healthcare increases in addition to addressing several other contractual items. Details of the agreement are forthcoming. The tentative agreement must still be ratified by UTR members and formally ratified by the Board. “Schools will remain open today, Wednesday, December 10, 2025 and will return to normal operation on Thursday, December 11th. “We are relieved that the strike is over and our students and teachers will be reunited in the classroom on Thursday.” ...read more read less